Clam-shell bucket.



R. D'. KIRCHER.

CLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4. 1915.

1,177,634, Patented Apri, 4,1916..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. WZ V Z/z/zz1755555 y Zin/517mg:

o. wl. MMM @114i i R. D. KlRCHER.

CLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATeoN F1LED1UNE14. 1915.---

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. D. KIRCHER.

CLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED IIINE I4, 1915.

1,177,634. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

IJ I

MTM

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

RALPH D. KIRCHER, F BEDFORD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TQ WILLIAM BUDDOCK, 0F i uCIIIEVELAND, OHIO.

; cam-SHELL BUCKET. Y' y Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

ppucaianmea innen, uns.vv serial No. sensi.

acitizen of the'United" States, resident-of Bedford', county kof Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clam-Shell Buckets, of which the following is aspecification, the prin- Vciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

lMy .invention relates to clam-shell buck-, ets, its object being to construct a bucket:

of the double-line type whichwill be ecov' nomical of manufacture and eiicilent in its operation.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of Various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawingsz--Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a clam-shell bucket embodying my invention, showing the scoop-members in their closed position. F ig.'2 represents a section taken upon the plane indicated by lines II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of. the bucket showing the Ascoop-membersin their open position. Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the bucket. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail section of one end of the bell-crank forming part of the device. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a detail section taken upon the plane indicated by line VII-VII in Fig. l.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises two scoop-members 1, 1, of any accepted construction, the inner portion of each of which is provided with two xed lateral arms 2. 2. The extreme inner ends of these arms are formed with bearings 3, 3, for the reception of a journal-rod 4.

Intermediately of these inner ends of these `arms and formed with a bearing 5 for the y 'inwhichlis mounted a rotatable sleeve 9 Be it known that I, RALPH D. Knox-LER, -h

distax'it llobes, .Q cross-section is designed to receive the links of a collapsible `member such as a chain `1O which passes therethrough, as shown in Fig. 2.1 Thisilast' described structure performs-a function which will be hereinafter described.

Anfupper head 11 ,formed of two plates, separated from and secured to each other by ineansff suitable' separators, has passing lierethrough a pin 12, the outer ends of two sets of arms 13, Mounted in opposite ends of this head are the sheaves 14 and .the endof secured# yThe closingiline 18 passes downwardly around the inner portion of the periphery of the sheave 15, then around sheave 7 from whence it passes around sheave v14 and thence to a strap 19 which is oscillatorily mounted upon the end of the arm of the bell-crank upon which the sheave 7 is mounted. The connection between the strap and this arm is conveniently made by passing the pin 20 which forms the journal for the sheave 7, through eyes formed in the end of this strap, as will be readily understood.

A strap 21 is similarly mounted upon the pin 22 of the sheave 15, to which the two ends of the chain 10 are suitably secured, this chain, as before described, passing through the sleeve 9 mounted upon the end of one arm of the bellecrank. This chain is made of a link such that it will form a means for limiting the open position of the scoop-members, as shown in Fig. 3.

Assuming the bucket to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to open same, the closing line 18 is slacked away which permits the inner ends of the scoopmembers to drop and these members to open out. This slacking away is continued until the scoop-members assume their extreme open position, as shown in Fig. 3, the bellcrank during this operation oscillating on its axis. During this movement the sleeve 9 will turn in its bearing permitting the chain .to retain a fixed position with reference to the hoisting line-17 is suitably rwhich?form journals for the upper ends of mon journal-rod; a head: arms oscillatorily.

suoli sleeve and thus eliminating any frictional action between the chain and the arm directly. 'Before the scoop-members, however, assume their extreme open position, the weight of such members will be applied to the chain and through it to the head 11. This head will therefore, at the end of the opening movement, be pulled downwardly and in so doing acts as a Shock absorber, preventing the too sudden stopping of the movements of the parts, as will be readily understood. Furthermore by providing the oscillatory bell-crank and connecting 'same with the closing line, as described, as well as connecting it with the head by means of the chain, I am enabled to. eHect a substantially equal application oit'v power to each of the buckets during the closing operation, causing each scoop-member to travel an equal distance during such operation.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of two scoop-members having their inner ends oscillatory upon a movable axis and their outer` ends mounted upon a stationary axis; an arm having its axis coinciding with said movable axis and mounted so as to be oscillatory with reference to said axis; an oscillatory head having its axis coinciding with said stationary axis; sheaves mounted upon said head and said arm; a closing line passing around said sheaves; and a separate member connecting said head and arm.

2. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of two scoop-members having inwardly extending members mounted upon a commounted upon said head and articulating with the outer portlons of said scoop-members; a bell-crank mounted upon said journal-rod: sheaves mounted upon said head; a sheave mounted upon one arm of said bellcrank; a closing line passing around said sheaves; and means connecting the other` arm of said bell-crank with said head.

mounted upon a common journal-rod; a

head; arms having their upper ends articulating with said head and their lower ends articulating with the outer ends of said scoop-members a bell-crank oscillatorily mounted upon said rod; sheaves mounted upon said head; a sheave mounted upon one arm of said bell-crank; a closing line passing around said sheaves and having one of its extremities secured t0 said arm; and a chain connecting the other arm of said bellcrank with said head.

4. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head; a chain having its two ends secured to such head; and an oscillatory arm connected with the scoop-members; one end of said arm being provided with a bearing and a sleeve mounted therein, said sleeve being provided with a central axial opening through which said chain passes.

5. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of two scoop-mernbers having their inner ends oscillatory upon a movable axis and their Vouter ends mounted upon a stationary axis; an arm having its axis coinciding with said movable axis and mounted so as to be oscillatory with reference to said axis; an

oscillatory head having its `axis coinciding with said stationary axis; sheaves mounted upon said head and said arm; a closing line passing around said sheaves; and a separate and collapsible member connecting saidhead and arm. -l

6. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of two scoop-members having inwardly extending members mounted upon a common journal-rod; a head; arms oscillatorily mounted upon said head and articulating with the outer portions of said scoop-members; a bell-crank mounted upon said journal-rod; sheaves mounted upon said head; a sheave mounted upon one arm of said bell-crank; a closing line passing around said sheaves; and collapsible means connecting the other arm of said bell-crank with said head.

Signed by me, this 11th day of June, 1915.

RALPH D. KIRCHER. 

